Mission
The mission of the Finance Department of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe is to provide world-class processing of financial transactions to allow for the most timely and accurate financial information, which will allow management to strategically manage the Tribe’s resources and objectives.
Administration/Accounting
The Controller is in charge of the Accounting Division, which is responsible for the accounting for nearly all of the accounting functions for the Permanent Fund. The Director of Budget and Planning is responsible for preparation of budgets and reports and is involved in strategic long-term planning. The Director of Treasury and Cash Management manages the treasury and investments.
Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivable (AP/AR)
The goal of the Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivable team is to ensure that all bills are paid when due and all revenues of the tribe are recorded and collected when earned. A full-time front desk person also supports the team in the cashiering function and provides reception for the entire Finance Department.
General Ledger/Fixed Assets
The General Ledger/Fixed Assets group’s primary function is to properly record and report financial operations. This group also distributes per capita, elder’s retirement, and dividend payments to the membership.
Purchasing/Central Receiving
The Purchasing Division coordinates the procurement and distribution of goods and services and facilitates travel requirements for the Tribal organization. When a Tribal department needs goods, services, or travel for Tribal business, a Purchase Requisition or a Travel Request is submitted to the Purchasing Division. Purchasing reviews the request to ensure that the request is properly authorized and coded. A search for vendors, products, services, and best prices is conducted before sourcing a requisition to the appropriate vendor or travel agency. When goods are received, they are entered into PeopleSoft as having been received and are then delivered to the appropriate departments.
Purchasing also manages and stocks a Central Supply Room with expendable office, janitorial, and break room supplies.
Tribal Credit
Tribal Credit helps eligible Tribal members obtain low-interest-rate loans.
Tribal Credit maintains loan records and files, collects payments, and protects the Tribe’s interests by managing collateral. Our staff leads counseling classes for minors as a requirement of the Minors’ Dividend Interest Fund.
Contracts and Grants
The Contracts and Grants office works with Tribal departments to apply for and manage substantial funding from federal, state, and private granting agencies. Funding from Public Law 93-638 contracts and grants from other agencies is devoted to Tribal Self-Determination, assuring the Tribe directs, plans and administers its own federally-funded programs for education, social services, agriculture, environmental protection, health and wellness, law enforcement, construction projects, tribal court, water resources, disaster preparedness, and museum assistance.
The Contracts and Grants office is also responsible for ensuring that funding received is spent in accordance with the many federal and state regulations and private organizational requirements. Compliance with these requirements is as important as obtaining the funding.
Payroll
The Payroll Division provides payroll services for the Tribal government/Permanent Fund and all Growth Fund entities. Paychecks are processed on a bi-weekly basis. Approximately 1,175 paychecks are processed every two weeks, and over 33,000 paychecks are processed per year. Appropriate tax reports are submitted to the IRS, as well as to the eight related state tax agencies with tribal employment locations. The Payroll Division consistently meets its mission to process paychecks in a timely and accurate manner.
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